Self-leveling basket for aeroplanes



J. JURICICH.

SELF LEVELING BASKET FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 191B. RENEWED FEB. 18, I920.

1,336,702. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- W FIG. 1

FIG. 2..

J. JURICICH.

SELF LEVELING BASKET FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, I918. RENEWED FEB. 18,1920.

1,336,702. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOSIP JURICICI-I, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LEVELING BASKET FOR AEROPLANES.

ne ates.

To all whom it may concern:

Be known that I, Josrr JURIoIoH, a citizen of Jugo-Slavia, residing at Pittsburgh. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Leveling Baskets for Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in self-leveling baskets particularly adapted for aeroplanes, ships, or the like and is of that type embodying supporting rings having journaled on their inner peripheries spherical bearing members which bearing members serve to hold a basket in a horizontal position regardless of the plane of the machine thereby maintaining the occupant of the basket in an upright posltion.

Another and important object of this invention is the provision of a supporting or carrying basket for a gun operator or observation man of an aeroplane and one which may be held in a substantially horizontal planeregardless of the plane in which the machine is in.

The object of this invention is to provide a self-leveling basket of the above stated character which will be inexpensive in con-' struction, effective in operation, and will be readily attached to an aeroplane or the like.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and set forth in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the basket attached to an aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of an aeroplane with the basket attached thereto.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the basket illustrating the manner in which it may be attached to the mast of a ship.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the basket and supporting rings.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the self-levelv formed in its inner periphery a plurality of s M Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntd Apr, 13, 1920 Application filed February 25, 1918, Serial No. 219,131 Renewed February 18, 1920.

Serial No. 359,542.

relatively spaced recesses 6. The recesses Sat the vertical and horizontal axis of the outer ring are of a depth greater than the other recesses and are adapted to have secured therein inner supporting rings 7 and 8 respectively. The inner rings 7 and 8 respectively are connected together with the rings at right angles to one another and the inner periphery of each of these rings is provided with a plurality of relatively spaced recesses 9.

A shaft 10 is journaled through the rear wall of each recess of all the rings and the outer end'of the shaft provided with a bearing 11 which en ages the outer periphery of each ring preventing endwise movement of the shaft in one direction. The outer termi nal of each shaft beyond the bearing 11 terminates into a head 12 to which is secured the weighted fastening member 13. The inner ends of the shafts extend beyond the rear wa ll of the recesses 6 and 9 respectively and have secured thereto a shank 14. The outer end of the shank has formed integral therewith a Ushaped bearing member 15 in which is journaled a spherical member 16. The periphery of the spherical bearing iember 16 extends beyond the inner periphery of the rings as clearly illustrated in Fig. t'of the drawings.

bearing cone 17 is secured to each shaft and bears against the rear Wall of each recess and these cones coact with the bearing plates 18 formed on the inner end of each shaft 14 to provide housings for the ball bearings 19 interposed between the cones l7 and members 18 respectively.

A semi-spherical basket 20 is positioned within the inner rings 7 and 8 respectively and its convex surface engages the spherical bearing members 16. A boss 21 is formed integrally with the bottom wall of the basket from the interior thereof and this boss is provided with an axial opening 22 to receive the lower end of the standard 28. The upper end of the standard has con nected thereto a bearing ring 24 which ring engages the spherical members 16 to maintain the basket in a horizontal plane regardless of the angle or position -of the rings. The ring 24 is provided with a transverse brace 25 to the center of which is secured the upper end of the standard 23.

The outer supporting ring 5 has secured thereto at diametrically opposite points a pair of supporting rods 26, the free ends of these rods being provided With suitable attaching members 27 through the medium of Which the self-leveling basket may be readily secured to the aeroplane of other devices.

It Will be apparent that a self-leveling basket made in accordance With the above description provides a serviceable support or carrier for a gun operator or observation man of an aeroplane and permits the persons to freely perform their duties regardless of the plane the machine may be in during actual flight.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-leveling basket including an outer supporting ring, a pair of inner right angular related rings connected to the inner periphery of said outer supporting ring, means connecting the inner rings to said outer rings, spaced spherical bearings on the inner peripheries of said rings, and an occupant-carrying basket positioned Within said inner rings and engaging said bearings.

2. A self-leveling basket including an outer supporting ring, a pair of inner right angularly related rings secured to the inner periphery of the outer supporting ring, the inner peripheries of said last-named rings provided With a plurality of spaced recesses, shafts extending through the rear Walls of said recesses, bearings on the inner ends of said shafts, spherical members journaled in said bearings and positioned beyond the inner peripheries of said inner rings, spaced spherical members on the inner periphery of said outer ring, and an occupant-carrying basket located Within said inner rings and freely movable over said spherical members for the purpose specified.

3. A self-leveling basket comprising supporting rings, bearings carried bysaid supporting rings, an occupant-carrying basket located Within said rings, and engaging said bearings, and a standard connected with said basket and bearings for holding said basket freely movable in upright position.

4. A self-leveling basket comprising an outer supporting ring, a pair of angularly related inner supporting rings connected to the inner side of said outer supporting ring, a plurality of spaced spherical bearing members located on the inner side of each of said rings, and an occupant-carrying basket located Within the inner rings and engaging said bearing members, a standard secured to said basket, a ring carried by the other end of said standard and engaging the spherical bearing members to permit said basket to be freely movable Within said rings, and attaching members secured to the outer supporting rings.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JOSIP JURIGICH. 

